Page 88 of Broken

Today was a fucking fantastic day. I felt like Izzy did a couple of weeks ago before school right now.Nothingcould bring me down.

Pulling into the parking lot at Bob’s Diner, I headed around back to where Annie’s text had said to meet everyone on the oceanfront side of the building. It was a great day to eat outside. The breeze was that perfect balance of sunny and a touch of cool without being cold, and the beach surrounding the outdoor patio was animated, the locals taking advantage of one of the warmer December days before the colder weather hit.

My friends had snagged a table right at the front center edge of the patio. Izzy was perched on Tucker’s lap while they fed each other fries, her hand rubbing small circles on her stomach. Itwas like she’d popped a few days ago, a definite bump showing where the baby was now.

It was weird and still a lot to take in.

My eyes fell onto Annie next, and like she felt my gaze, she looked at me. Her eyes lit up, and I opened my arms, a huge, beaming smile lighting up her entire gorgeous face when her gaze snapped to my wrist.

She leapt up, running to me, and jumped into my arms. “You got it off!”

“I did.” I chuckled, twirling her around before setting her back down. She grabbed my wrist, running her hand along my arm like she still couldn’t believe it was free. I barely could either.

“So you’re clear for practice again? And the game?”

“For all of it. Healed just in time, right?” I said as we headed back to the table.

Izzy hopped up, giving me a hug, the bump on her belly pressing against me. Again. Weird. “This is so awesome, Jet. It doesn’t hurt at all, does it? You can play?”

“I can.”

“Thank God, man.” Tucker bumped fists with me as he pulled Izzy back onto his lap, and I slid into the chair beside Annie. “I know Zane got benched, but it’s been hard trying not to retaliate. If you’d missed the championship game…” Tucker’s jaw clenched, his eyes hardening.

“I know. We barely made it through the semi-finals last weekend.”

“Is Coach putting you in or leaving Daniel? Since you just got your cast off?” Tucker asked, his brow creasing. “It’s pretty shit if he doesn’t play you, but Daniel did get y’all there through the playoffs.”

No shit. Talk about surprised. And thankful.I’d coached him in the position as much as I could during practices while he’d taken my spot. “I called Coach on the way here. He said ifpractice goes well this week and I’m not in any pain, the game’s mine on Friday.”

Annie wrapped herself around my arm, squeezing. “I’m just so freaking excited. I’m so happy for you that you get to finish the season. No thanks to certain assholes that shall not be named.” She scowled, her eyes drifting to a spot out on the beach.

I followed her gaze to where Zane was flirting with a couple of cheerleaders, teaching them how to throw a football. One placed a hand on his chest, an open invitation in the look she sent him as he wrapped himself around her back, and Zane smirked, his eyes eating up the promise. It was like watching the old version of Tucker, with a high dose of manipulation.

The twins rolled their eyes before sharing a look, and my eyes narrowed in suspicion as I watched Zane’s gaze shift to Izzy. It was all a front. The fucker still wasn’t letting her go. I just couldn’t figure out what his next move would be.

Not even mentioning to the rest of them that Zane was watching, I flagged down a waitress, and the four of us spent the next hour or so chatting and laughing as we ate. When it started to get dark, Tucker and I got up to toss our trash from the table.

“Fuck,” he groaned, seeing Lisa walking up from the beach with Larissa and Phoenix. “I’m ready to bail. You?”

I shrugged. I was honestly good either way, but then Lisa’s voice drifted over.

“I’m telling you, I’m so sick of the hype of those two. He’s the star quarterback. He could do so much better than that bitch.”

My hackles raised, now on high alert, because even without names, I knew exactly who she was talking about.

“No kidding,” Phoenix chimed in. “And poor Zane.”

“I know. He’s still so hung up on Izzy, and the way Tucker clings to her all the time even after she trapped him? Fucking cum basket must have a cunt made out of gold.”

Tucker stopped, his body turning to steel. I’d just held out an arm to hold him back when Annie’s voice blazed through the dusk air.

“You fucking bitch!” I turned to watch just as Annie stormed the last few steps, her fist snapping forward with a right hook that had Lisa’s whole body staggering to the side. “Don’t youeversay something like that about my sister ever again. Do you hear me, you cunt!”

Lisa turned back, her eyes wide with her hand over her eye as her friends stood frozen in surprise, and I watched as their shock turned to white-hot rage in a matter of split seconds. All four girls lunged, arms flailing as fists flew, nails scratched, and hair was pulled.

Stunned for only a second, Tucker and I sprang forward together, and he shoved his way through, grabbing Lisa just after Annie yanked her head back by her hair, her fist already balling. I wrapped my arms around my girl’s waist, hauling her back before she could strike.

“Enough!” Tucker barked, and Lisa froze before sagging against his chest. Tucker instantly released his hold, and she stumbled back as he stepped away, his hands in the air. He turned on her, a mammoth against a deceitful, pathetic fox. She trembled under his furious gaze, blood dripping down her cheek as her eye swelled. “The fuck is your problem?! Because don’t even tell me you didn’t know the twins were sitting right there!” His arm threw out to where Izzy was still seated at our table, her face ashen.

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